2009 Baseball

Bluffton drops a pair to Rose-Hulman

Rose-Hulman takes series with Saturday sweep at Memorial Field

By: Brandy Bidlack, sports information assistant
April 18, 2009

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University baseball team dropped a double-header to
Heartland Conference rival Rose-Hulman on Saturday, April 18, thanks to an outstanding
Engineer performance at the plate. The Beavers dropped to 10-19 overall and 4-11 in
the conference, while the Engineers improved to 22-11 this season and 12-6 in the
HCAC.

The Beavers started off the first game on the right foot as the very first Bluffton
batter, freshman outfielder Nick Broyles (Toledo/Whitmer), homered to right center. However, that was the only run the Beavers
managed in the lidlifter. Rose-Hulman crushed the Beavers, 13-1, thanks to five Bluffton
errors and 14 hits, compared to just six hits for Bluffton.

Rose-Hulman pounded out nine hits and 10 runs off Bluffton starter Matt Perkins (Convoy/Crestview). Perkins (2-3) walked two batters and picked up three strikeouts
before freshman pitcher Kelly Barnes (Toledo/Toledo Christian) came on in the sixth. Barnes gave up three runs and five
hits over the final 1.1 innings.

The Beavers once again started off the first inning with a solo home run, this time
by Cody McPherson (Northwood/Millbury Lake) over the left center wall. Rose-Hulman subdued the Bluffton
offense as the Engineers went on an 18-0 spurt during innings three through six, including
a grand slam by Rose-Hulman slugger Tim Tepe who was 8-of-12 for the weekend.

Down 18-1 in the bottom of the seventh, freshman catcher Jaryd Kovacs (Gahanna/Westerville North) singled to third base and advanced to second on a base
knock by senior outfielder Allen Slabaugh (Dalton). Aaron Koonce (Toledo/Start) then singled up the middle, giving Kovacs the green light for home.

In the eighth inning, Greg Bergstedt (Napoleon/Patrick Henry) was hit by a pitch and then advanced to second on a rip
down the left line by Tyler Stephenson (Springfield/Northwestern). Bergstedt scored and Stephenson went to third thanks
to a double to left center by sophomore Brett Howard (Toledo/St. Francis DeSales). Kyle Maran (Toledo/Start) sent Stephenson racing home on a single to right field. Howard capitalized
on a double play and crossed the plate for the last Bluffton run of the night as the
Beavers lost to Rose-Hulman, 20-5.

Both Maran and Slabaugh went 2-for-2 at the plate while the Bluffton offense collected
four RBI in the third and final game of the conference series with Rose-Hulman. Tyler
Stephenson and Brett Howard finished with two safeties apiece.